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Leonardo Da Vinci machines coming to Bradenton

"Da Vinci Machines," an exhibition of artwork reproductions and machines built from designs by Italian Renaissance artist, engineer, architect and sculptor Leonardo da Vinci will go on display at the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium in the fall. (Courtesy photo)

Published: Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 3:02 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 3:02 p.m.

A collection of machines built to plans devised by renowned Renaissance artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci will be on display in the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium for six months starting later this fall.

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“Da Vinci Machines” is a national touring show of objects and reproductions of Leonardo's famous artwork, including a near-life-sized replica of “The Last Supper,” that comes from the Museum of Leonardo da Vinci in Florence, Italy. It has been on display recently in St. Louis and now is in Denver.

Leonardo (1452-1519) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, engineer, architect, artist and inventor. Born in the city of Vinci, near Florence, he commissioned local artisans and craftsmen to build the many machines he designed, including flying machines, war machines, nautical and hydraulic machines, and mechanical principals. His best-known paintings are the Mona Lisa, which hangs in the Louvre in Paris, and “The Last Supper,” a mural painted on the wall of a monastery in Milan.

Bradenton beat out a number of cities in Florida for the exhibit thanks to a friendship between Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Chuck Romito, who produces Renaissance fairs around the country. Romito met brothers Mark and John Rodgers, who produce the “Da Vinci Machines” exhibits in the United States, in Las Vegas and pitched them the Bradenton idea.

John Rodgers came to Florida and “went to Miami, Sarasota, Tampa, Naples, all these cities,” said Mark Rodgers. In Bradenton, the municipal auditorium “was just beautiful. Our exhibit would set up absolutely beautiful there. The time of year would be absolutely correct.”

The exhibit needs “a wide open space with tall ceilings” and infrastructure to support plenty of visitors, said Rodgers. In Denver, the show took over an old Virgin Records building on the 16th Street mall that had been unoccupied for five years.

The exhibit is just one of several that focus on the art and inventions of Leonardo. “Da Vinci the Genius” has toured the world; “Leonardo: 500 Years Into the Future” ran for four months in 2008 at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, Calif., and was so popular it was extended for three weeks.

The machines in the Bradenton exhibit, which should open about Thanksgiving and run through April, were built in Italy by third-generation craftsman at the Museum of Leonardo da Vinci, said Rodgers. About half of them are interactive, allowing visitors to put their hands on them and see how they work.

“Da Vinci Machines” has averaged about 7,000 visitors per month at its St. Louis and Denver showings.

“We feel we should be able to drive about that many visitors to that exhibit, or more,” said Falcione.

Local pricing has not been set, but the exhibit will pair with the South Florida Museum across the street with one ticket allowing entrance to both. Admission to the South Florida Museum now is $15.95 for adults.

Debbie Meihls, executive manager of the Bradenton Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the exhibit fits neatly into Bradenton's recent redevelopment, including the Riverwalk and the newly opened Manatee Performing Arts Center. A tourist development grant of about $10,000 will help pay for marketing and promotion.

The Rodgers brothers also produce similar exhibits on Julius Caesar and Michelangelo, which may follow “Da Vinci Machines” into the auditorium.

Rodgers said the Bradenton version of the exhibit will include “a couple of surprises that we have never had at any of the other exhibits . . . we're going to 'Da Vinci Bradenton.' 'Discover the da Vinci in you,' that's the theme of our entire exhibit. We want people to be changed when they leave.”

<p>A collection of machines built to plans devised by renowned Renaissance artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci will be on display in the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium for six months starting later this fall. </p><p>“Da Vinci Machines” is a national touring show of objects and reproductions of Leonardo's famous artwork, including a near-life-sized replica of “The Last Supper,” that comes from the Museum of Leonardo da Vinci in Florence, Italy. It has been on display recently in St. Louis and now is in Denver.</p><p>Leonardo (1452-1519) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, engineer, architect, artist and inventor. Born in the city of Vinci, near Florence, he commissioned local artisans and craftsmen to build the many machines he designed, including flying machines, war machines, nautical and hydraulic machines, and mechanical principals. His best-known paintings are the Mona Lisa, which hangs in the Louvre in Paris, and “The Last Supper,” a mural painted on the wall of a monastery in Milan.</p><p>Bradenton beat out a number of cities in Florida for the exhibit thanks to a friendship between Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Chuck Romito, who produces Renaissance fairs around the country. Romito met brothers Mark and John Rodgers, who produce the “Da Vinci Machines” exhibits in the United States, in Las Vegas and pitched them the Bradenton idea.</p><p>John Rodgers came to Florida and “went to Miami, Sarasota, Tampa, Naples, all these cities,” said Mark Rodgers. In Bradenton, the municipal auditorium “was just beautiful. Our exhibit would set up absolutely beautiful there. The time of year would be absolutely correct.”</p><p>The exhibit needs “a wide open space with tall ceilings” and infrastructure to support plenty of visitors, said Rodgers. In Denver, the show took over an old Virgin Records building on the 16th Street mall that had been unoccupied for five years.</p><p>The exhibit is just one of several that focus on the art and inventions of Leonardo. “Da Vinci the Genius” has toured the world; “Leonardo: 500 Years Into the Future” ran for four months in 2008 at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, Calif., and was so popular it was extended for three weeks.</p><p>The machines in the Bradenton exhibit, which should open about Thanksgiving and run through April, were built in Italy by third-generation craftsman at the Museum of Leonardo da Vinci, said Rodgers. About half of them are interactive, allowing visitors to put their hands on them and see how they work.</p><p>“Da Vinci Machines” has averaged about 7,000 visitors per month at its St. Louis and Denver showings.</p><p>“We feel we should be able to drive about that many visitors to that exhibit, or more,” said Falcione. </p><p>Local pricing has not been set, but the exhibit will pair with the South Florida Museum across the street with one ticket allowing entrance to both. Admission to the South Florida Museum now is $15.95 for adults.</p><p>Debbie Meihls, executive manager of the Bradenton Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the exhibit fits neatly into Bradenton's recent redevelopment, including the Riverwalk and the newly opened Manatee Performing Arts Center. A tourist development grant of about $10,000 will help pay for marketing and promotion.</p><p>The Rodgers brothers also produce similar exhibits on Julius Caesar and Michelangelo, which may follow “Da Vinci Machines” into the auditorium.</p><p>“The da Vinci exhibition allows us an opportunity to drive visitors into downtown Bradenton and ultimately showcase our arts and culture amenities,” said Falcione.</p><p>Rodgers said the Bradenton version of the exhibit will include “a couple of surprises that we have never had at any of the other exhibits . . . we're going to 'Da Vinci Bradenton.' 'Discover the da Vinci in you,' that's the theme of our entire exhibit. We want people to be changed when they leave.”</p>